Iliopoulos Hits Over .400 at European Softball Championships
Jul 31 | Softball
Rising junior leads Greek National Softball Team to ninth place Euro finish
TRNAVA, Slovakia (July 31, 2018) – Rising junior Anyssa Iliopoulos of Rutgers softball produced a .409 batting average and drove in six runs for the Greek National Team during the U-22 Women's European Softball Championships, where Greece finished in ninth place out of 17 teams in Slovakia.
Playing for the second consecutive summer with the Greek National Team, Iliopoulos started all eight games for the Hellas while playing third base and shortstop, and batting at the top of a potent batting order that sent 73 runs across the plate. Greece went 6-2 during the tournament, but missed out on a higher placing after going 2-2 during the initial group stage with a pair of three-run losses to eventual third and fourth place finishers Ireland and Great Britain, respectively.
"It's truly amazing to have the opportunity to play the game at this level," Iliopoulos said. "There's a strong sense of pride because the players are all representing their countries and heritage. Although we didn't finish where we wanted to, we built a great foundation in preparing for the Olympics qualifier."
Iliopoulos batted 9-for-22 for her .409 average, adding five runs, six RBIs, three walks and three stolen bases. She slugged .545 with a double and a triple, and was also Greece's must successful situational hitter with a sacrifice fly and three successful sacrifice bunts.
With softball reentering the Summer Olympic Games in 2020, Greece will vie for one of the coveted spots at the 2019 qualifying tournament.
"Every tournament, we grow as a group and gain experience playing internationally," Iliopoulos said. "All while experiencing new places and traditions in different countries."
Iliopoulos' productive European Championships stat line was an extension of a season-ending hot streak at RU. The sophomore hit in six of her final seven games, including a career day at LIU-Brooklyn in the Scarlet Knights' final non-conference game of the year. Iliopoulos hit a grand slam during a seventh-inning comeback and added a go-ahead RBI double in the eighth as part of a three-hit, five-RBI evening. She finished the season with 22 hits, 17 RBIs, four home runs and six stolen bases in seven attempts.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers softball, follow the program on Twitter (@RUSoftball) and Instagram (@ru_softball). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RutgersSB). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
- RU -
Playing for the second consecutive summer with the Greek National Team, Iliopoulos started all eight games for the Hellas while playing third base and shortstop, and batting at the top of a potent batting order that sent 73 runs across the plate. Greece went 6-2 during the tournament, but missed out on a higher placing after going 2-2 during the initial group stage with a pair of three-run losses to eventual third and fourth place finishers Ireland and Great Britain, respectively.
"It's truly amazing to have the opportunity to play the game at this level," Iliopoulos said. "There's a strong sense of pride because the players are all representing their countries and heritage. Although we didn't finish where we wanted to, we built a great foundation in preparing for the Olympics qualifier."
Iliopoulos batted 9-for-22 for her .409 average, adding five runs, six RBIs, three walks and three stolen bases. She slugged .545 with a double and a triple, and was also Greece's must successful situational hitter with a sacrifice fly and three successful sacrifice bunts.
With softball reentering the Summer Olympic Games in 2020, Greece will vie for one of the coveted spots at the 2019 qualifying tournament.
"Every tournament, we grow as a group and gain experience playing internationally," Iliopoulos said. "All while experiencing new places and traditions in different countries."
Iliopoulos' productive European Championships stat line was an extension of a season-ending hot streak at RU. The sophomore hit in six of her final seven games, including a career day at LIU-Brooklyn in the Scarlet Knights' final non-conference game of the year. Iliopoulos hit a grand slam during a seventh-inning comeback and added a go-ahead RBI double in the eighth as part of a three-hit, five-RBI evening. She finished the season with 22 hits, 17 RBIs, four home runs and six stolen bases in seven attempts.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers softball, follow the program on Twitter (@RUSoftball) and Instagram (@ru_softball). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RutgersSB). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
- RU -
Players Mentioned
UTIL
/ SoftballWednesday, May 27
Sunday, May 03
Monday, April 27
Monday, April 27
